Vacation? Southern CA

Re: Vacation? Southern CA

• lexusolsen member

  January 2014

  Oceanside and Carlsbad are both San Diego county so I would say it depends on how much you want to do in SD versus how much you want to do in LA. I think the aquarium in long beach is better and bigger than the birch in San Diego, but I would make a point to do the San Diego Zoo. What other activities are you looking to do?

  

  
  

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• jnksmom member

  January 2014

  gwapes said:

  Disneyland: Wear comfy shoes.

  
  Thanks. That's a definite must. Re: CA adventure. I didn't even know that existed until earlier this week when I looked up at Disneyland. If you had to choose one which would you choose? I'm not sure H will be up for both.

  

  Report0 Reply
• jnksmom member

  January 2014

  lexusolsen said:

  Oceanside and Carlsbad are both San Diego county so I would say it depends on how much you want to do in SD versus how much you want to do in LA. I think the aquarium in long beach is better and bigger than the birch in San Diego, but I would make a point to do the San Diego Zoo. What other activities are you looking to do?

  
  Honestly we just decided on CA for vacation so I have do e much research. We talked about Disneyland and the SD zoo but not much else so any suggestions would be great.

  

  Report0 Reply
• JMC11511 member

  January 2014

  Not sure how old your kids are but if you do Carlsbad area, Legoland and Sea World are close and worth it, IMO. Re: Disneyland, for the money you spend for a single park ticket, I would do both parks instead. Especially if you can do a park hopper that gets you more than one day. CA Adventure does have Cars Land, but the bulk of the rides in that park have a height requirement. That said, LO loves the Bugs Land area, Little Mermaid ride, Toy Story ride and visiting the characters in Cars Land. And you can always do parent swap for rides that LO's are too short for. Disneyland has tons of rides that have no height requirement. We usually end up spending more of the day at Disneyland than CA Adventure when we go with our passes.

  Because you're mine, I walk the line....

  Landry Mark: 11/5/11

  

  Report0 Reply
• JMC11511 member

  January 2014

  Oh, also, I prefer the SD Safari Park to the Zoo.

  Because you're mine, I walk the line....

  Landry Mark: 11/5/11

  

  Report1 Reply
• lexusolsen member

  January 2014

  JMC11511 said:

  Oh, also, I prefer the SD Safari Park to the Zoo.

  If you have been to other traditional zoos I second this. The safari park is more walking (the enclosures are further apart) but it is not your typical zoo experience. It is about a 30 minute to an hour drive from downtown SD depending on traffic.
  
  Legoland was fun and is in Carlsbad. What time of year are you planning to go? Are you into theme parks, outdoorsy activities?
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• MooOink member

  January 2014

  I don't know how old your kids are but I would chose California Adventure. We're local so our membership covers both parks. We just took DS at 18 months and there's a ton to do there. Lots of rides for all ages, lots of shows, cool behind the scenes animation stuff, and they sell alcohol! And I love the food options.
  
  Also, don't go to sea world.
  
  Lego land is alot of fun.
  
  If you go down into SD Coronado island is great, and the gas lamp area of downtown is fun and lots of good food.
  
  Lots of fun beach areas- mission beach has belmont park, it has lottle rides and a roller coaster.
  
  birch aquarium is smaller than long beach aquarium but it's also alot cheaper! $12/each adult compared to $26/each adult.
  
  Any other questions let me know

  Report0 Reply
• jnksmom member

  January 2014

  @moooink and @lexusolsen

  Thank you guys for the suggestions so far. To answer a few questions...

  
  

  DS will be 7 and DD will be almost 6 when we go. We are going in either May or July...probably July. We would like to spend a day at the beach and some sightseeing. We like amusement parks, anything historical, outdoor activities. Really we are up for anything. We like to go and see things. 
  

  We have been to Legoland in FL. Do you know how it compares? Both DS and DD love legos right now. 

  

  Report0 Reply
• bumpuser8448316 member

  January 2014 edited January 2014

  In LA make sure you visit the science center and see the space shuttle. Also Noah's Ark at the Skirball cultural Center is fun. The Farmer's Market has toons of yummy places to eat (The Gumbo Pot is super yum. Can't beat their Po'boys)

  
  

  Report0 Reply